Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1887-02-04
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY, 4, 1887,
COMMUNIcAT1ON
wAsnINeroS, D. G. Jan. 18th, 1887.


Commerce bill, which is the result of
a popular movement beginning twenty
years ago, marks the past week in
Congress. There was good deal of
important legislation besides this, how.
ever, such as that giving tho Agricul,
tural Department Executive impor-
tance and its chief a seat in the Cabl-
net; that hierarchy at Salt Lake City,
and that doubling the militia appropri-
alton for the year. This last act will
doubtless, be we'll received every ywhere;
for the time has come when it is ac-
knowledged that the citizen soldiery
Of the land ought to receive more at
tention on than has even yet been
shown them.
1t was expected that the Senate
would settle the vexed question Of
Commerce by railroads as it did, about
the hour Of midnight on FRIDAY, but
no one knew how many more Senators
would be found supporting them op-
posing the bill. It came triumphantly
through by vote of forty-three
to fifteen, although number of SEN
ators who voted for the measure were
dissatisfied with it. Those decided to
set aside their own views and follow
the dictates of their constituents, saying
in this instance, where legislation is
necessarily experimental, it is safe to
give the people the benefit of the
doubt.
The Interstate Commerce bill was
framed and pressed forward by men
who were mostly honest in their effort
to relieve the people, but there are a
good many legislators who doubt its
efficacy. Some say the railroads will
put up their through freights, and
thus insure the equality which the law
demands.
Now that the Anti-Mormon bill has
been passed by the House, one hears
good many comments which indicate
an appreciation of the severity of the
measure. Itnot only makes polygaihy
"a felony, but dissolves the financial cor
porations known as the Latter Day
Saints, and the Perpetual Emigration
Fund Company, and practically abOl'
ishes all the machinery, religious or
political, that is now employed directly
or indirectly in the maintenance Of
the Mormon Church system. There
are differences of opinion as to the wis
dom and justice of the policy, but the
friends of the measure just passed as
sumo that the malady is of such a
nature as to require heroic
treatment. Its opponants say it would
be better to wait upon the slow at
triton Of time and the pressure of pub
lie opinion to wear the evil out.
The Republicans pledged themselves
10 eradicate poligamy in 1856, more
than thirty years ago. They held
power for nearlv quarter of a century
and as Mormonism still fourishes it is
left for the Democrats to perform a
duty which the Republicans neglected
or else could not. OF course everybody
desires that the "twin relic of barbar-,
ism" shall be destroyed, if it can be
done without straining the Constitu-
ton. Hon. Randolph Tucker of Va.
who reported the Anti Mormon bill,
held that there was nothing in it that
could hurt the conscience even of Nor
mon. If he thought there was, he
said he would vote against it.
The State reception at the White
House on Thursday evening was gor-
geous in the gold lace of the
guests Of honor, the Diplomatic Corps,
with music, gaslight, flowers and palms
on every side, a crush of richly cos
ltumed women and a crowd of famous
men, many of them in brilliant uni
forms. Beside the official world Of the
Capitol, about sixty persons in private
lfe were invited to the reception.
Among these was noticed sAIrs. Frank
Leslie, and it was difficult to decide
whether she or Mrs. Stanford, the wife
of the Senator from California, wore the
largest or the finest or the greatest
number of diamonds
The Marine band which furnishes
music at White House receptions, is
enthusiastic in praise of the present
Administration. Mr.. Cleveland feeds
them well and is sociable and kind to
them, and Secretary whitney Is man
just after their own hearts. When
they got through at the Presidents on
New Years day, the Secretary of the
Navy took them over to his house to
play ut the reception there. He paid
them SIS apiece for their services, and
the leader SO. This was the first
time they ever received any remuner-
alton from Cabinet officer or any
other Govt. official. They say the
worst treatment they ever had was un
der President Arthur, when they were
sent home at two or three O'Clock in
the morning with their stomachs full
of oyster soup end beer Blame was
not fixed upon Mr.. Arthur himself,